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On the evening of Thursday 30th July 2009 as the opening event of Isle of Man Transport’s “Manx Heritage Transport Festival” the Supporters’ Association provided a film show in the Garden Room of the Sefton Hotel on the promenade at Douglas. The films and commentary were provided by the chairman, Bill Cubbon. The event was extremely well attended with extra seating being required to accommodate over 130 guests for the evening’s entertainment.The show began with a film dating back to 1981 showing No. 13 “Kissack” in action, then a derailment (accompanied by “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” from the film Life Of Brian) and moved on to show the ex-County Donegal Railcars bringing up the rear. Scenes from this time also included a short Royal Train trip from Douglas to Santon carrying Princess Alexandra and hauled by No. 11 “Maitland” before some more up-to-date films were shown.
An unusual mid-winter empty stock movement from 1999 was next up; No. 1 “Sutherland” at the head of a ten-coach train with banking support from No. 11 “Maitland” made an impressive site, as the large train struggles up the bank, grinding to a halt just beyond White Hoe, and makes steady progress to Ballasalla where it stops for water before completing its journey and shunting the coaches into the then-new carriage shed for winter storage. Staying in 1999 some late night footage of Douglas Signal Box being jacked across to its current location followed, then film of the “only steam-powered signal box in the world” as Captain Stephen Carter provides the motive power for positioning the ‘box the following day. This section is rounded off by footage of Prince Edward’s royal train in 2001 with the newly re-painted No. 15 “Caledonia” doing the honours, hauling the three-coach bar set. There followed more footage from this era, typified by the mixed liveries on the coaching stock as the Howard Era arrives, with the change from purple lake of the 1990s making way for the red and cream of recent years. Having seen No.1 in spring green, her next appearance is in Indian Red livery. There is, again, much footage of the blue No. 15 in service, having been turned chimney-first into Douglas at this time.
After another break for refreshments, there followed some films of the very earliest days of the restoration of the Groudle Glen Railway in 1982, showing the overgrown state of the trackbed and early efforts to clear the site; memorable incidents such as the very first services and the arrival of Hudson-Hunslet diesel locomotives were shown. This section culminated with the return to steam of “Sea Lion” back in 1987 and her arrival in the glen. T
The evening’s entertainment was thoroughly enjoyed by all, but marred with sadness as this would no doubt have been the first island visit for many enthusiasts since the sad deaths of James I.C. Boyd, Tony Beard and more recently J.D. Darby, and a minutes’ silence was observed to honour the memory of these three influential figures in the railway’s history. The festival continues until 5th August with many special events on all railways.
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